Collapsible picnic table and bench assembly



Sept. 10, 1957 e. w. BOHN 2,805,703

COLLAPSIBLE PICNIC TABLE AND BENCH ASSEMBLY Filed Nov. 15, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Glen W. Balm (N VEN TOR.

Sept. 10, 1957 G. w. BOHN 2,805,768

COLLAPSIBLE PICNIC TABLE. AND BENCH ASSEMBLY Filed Nov. 15, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Glen W. Bo/m 7 v INVENTOR.

COLLAPSIVBLE PICNIC TABLE AND BENCH ASSEMBLY Glen W. Bohn, Mount Horeh, Wis.

Application November 15, 1955, Serial No. 546,890

1 Claim. (Cl. 155-124) The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in a collapsible picnic table and bench assembly.

An important object of the invention is to provide a combined picnic table and bench constructed of knockdown elements for easily and quickly assembling the same and for conveniently handling and storing the same.

Another object of the invention is to provide a unitary leg construction for each end of the table and benches with novel means for attaching the table top and benches thereto in a specified manner.

A further object of the invention is to provide braces for the leg unit which are attached to the table top and benches and which are foldable into a compact form with the leg unit.

A still further object is to provide a device of this character of a simple and practical construction, which is strong and durable, neat and attractive in appearance, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for the purpose for which the same is intended.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a perspective view;

Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of one of the benches taken on the line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 4--4 of Figure 2; v

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of one of the benches taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view on a reduced scale and taken on the line 66 of Figure 4; and

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the brace connection for the underside of the table top.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein for the purpose of illustration I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of invention, the numerals 5 and 6 designate a pair of combined table and bench leg units and each being of duplicate construction whereby a detailed description of one will suflice for both.

Each leg unit is constructed of tubular metal and each including a pair of U-shaped members 7 and 8 constructed with a relatively long inner leg and a relatively short outer leg 10. The inner legs 9 are rigidly connected to each other by means of a cross bar 11 which is welded or otherwise suitably secured to the inner legs adjacent the lower end portions thereof. The upper ends of the inner legs 9 are welded to the underside of an angle iron member 12.

The angle iron member 12 includes a downwardly projecting flange 13 lockably engaged in a substantially atent ice V-shaped groove 14 formed at the central portion of a downwardly projecting flange 15 of an angle iron member .16 which is secured to the underside of a plurality of planks 17 by bolts and nuts 18 and which have their heads countersunk in the planks. The planks 17 are arranged in side by side relation to form a table top. The downwardly projecting flanges 13 and 15 are secured in assembled relation with respect to each other by bolts and nuts .20.

An inverted channel member 21 is secured in a transverse position to the underside of the table top by bolts and nuts 21a which are also countersunk in the upper surface of the table top and an angle iron bracket 22 is secured to the underside of channel 21 and to which the upper ends of braces 23 and 24 are detachably secured by bolts and wing nuts 25. The braces 23 and 24 are inclined downwardly toward the opposite ends of the table top and are pivoted at their lower ends by bolts and nuts or rivets 26 to upwardly inclined strap iron brackets 27 which are welded to the cross bars 11 of the respective leg unit.

Angle iron members 28 are also welded at one end to the upper end of each relatively short leg 10 of the leg unit and the angle iron members 28 also include a downwardly projecting flange 29 which is lockably engaged in a substantially V-shaped groove 30 formed on the downwardly projecting flange 31 of an angle iron member 32 which is secured to the underside of a bench 33 by bolts and nuts 34 countersunk in the upper surface of the bench.

Braces 35 and 36 are detachably secured at their upper ends to the underside of the central portion of each bench 33 by bolts and nuts 37 which are countersunk in the upper surface of the bench and the braces are pivotally connected at their lower ends to strap metal brackets 38 by bolts and nuts or rivets 39. The brackets are welded in an upwardly inclined position to the lower portion of each leg unit adjacent the short legs 10.

By removing the bolts and nuts 18 and 21 for the table top the planks 17 may be removed and then removing the bolts and nuts 19 and the wing nuts 25 the angle iron member 12 may be removed from the groove 14 of angle iron member 15 and the braces 23 and 24 for the leg units 5 and 6 detached from the channel member 21. In the same manner the benches 33 may be detached from the angle member 28 and from the braces 35 and 36 and all of the braces may then fold against the respective leg units.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, itis not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A combined table and double bench comprising a pair of leg units each including a pair of U-shaped members spaced apart in edge-to-edge relation to form a pair of inner legs and a pair of relatively shorter outer legs, an angle bar secured on top of and cross connecting the upper ends of each pair of inner legs and each including a downwardly projecting flange, a table top supported on the angle bars, a pair of V-shaped channel bars se cured to the underside of the table top between the pairs of inner legs and removably seating said flanges therein to removably secure said top on the angle bars in centered position relative to said units, a crossbar connecting the inner legs of each pair below the angle bars, a pair of diagonal hold-down bars for said top extending upwardly 3 from said crossbars to the center of said top and having overlapping ends detachably attached-to the top and remote ends hinged to said crossbars for lateral swinging oi the hold-down bars into, parallelsrelationto said units when said overlapping ends thereof are detached and whereby whensaid top is removed, said. units may be arrangedside-by-side with, said hQldrdOWn bars parailel, thereto, and means on said outer, legs for supporting, a,

pair of benches.

References Cited inthe; file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Lundy Sept. 3, 1929 Knaggs Sept. 6, 1932 Green Sept. 5, 1950 Hagan Sept. 18, 1951 Melges Feb. 23, 1954 Gallagher et a1 Nov. 8, 1955 Cooper May 22, 1956 Beller June 5, 1956 

